Goal or Obsession?

[zelmo1]

We all want to shoot a big ole Tom with curved spurs and a paint brush, me included. I am blessed to have permission to hunt a ridiculously good farm with no competition, the wife and I are the only ones with permission. Here is the dilemma. There is a flock of 10 gobblers on the farm, 2 are big uns. One is markedly bigger with very nice spurs for around here. My compulsive personality tells me to hunt that one bird and he is worth not punching a tag. My rational brain says shoot a mature Tom and let the obsessive behavior go. No wrong answers here, just curious to see where people are at. God Bless, Z

[knifeshark]

I think it all depends on how much time you have or are planning on hunting. If you can hunt a lot I would hunt the boss, if you don't have that kind of time then I would take what comes. A filled tag beats an empty freezer. Best of luck!

[Greg Massey]

I like the hunt / accomplishment, so I would try to kill the bigger gobbler.. IMO

[Happy]

I have no plan. I find a gobbling turkey and go try to kill him. As long as he has a full fan and I beat him on my terms, am fine with pulling the trigger. It doesn't mean I will, but I feel like I won regardless.

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[nyhunter]

I agree with Massey, If You hadn't killed many birds or there was a lot of hunting pressure on that property then my mind set might be different .

[Yoder409]

If Mr. Longspurs is readily identifiable in the woods or field, then go for it.

The area I hunt is not conducive for seeing spurs before the shot.  I have targeted specific birds.  But not by spur length.

[Swampmonkey]

I can honestly  say I've never passed on a mature gobbler that offered a clean shot. 1 in hand worth 2 in the bush 

[g8rvet]

I had a place like that I hunted and often targeted a bird.  As the days of the season grew closer to final, my pickiness waned and a few years I took what I could get. 

[arkrem870]

I'll wait on the strutter sometimes. But I don't make a habit of passing long beards.

[bbcoach]

As I age Z, (67 years old), I find myself in the EAT A TAG or 2, mentality.  I have killed my share of birds, and deer as well, and will let both critters WALK if they don't measure up to my Standards.  If I were in your shoes, had land to hunt that held birds of the caliber you say, and the wife and I were the only ones hunting that property, I would try to match wits and hunt the Mature Birds that are there.  For me, it's about EXPERIENCING the HUNT not the KILL.  If he WINS then, I'll look forward to another Time and Place and eat a tag or 2.

[JeffC]

Hunting for me is about the challenge, When we find the certain prey that gets you excited, we give chase. As seasons get closer too closing, I will take what's presented and gets blood pumping, have eaten my share of tags.

[Tom007]

I would call it in and let Mrs. Z shoot the big one.

[Dtrkyman]

Whatever turns your crank, while I love big spurs I have never hunted specific birds, I did hunt the three amigo's one year, but shot the first one that got in the way!

I am all about the first willing participant, but I also travel a lot and like to move on when possible!

[zelmo1]

I think Tombo is probably the closest. She shoots the one I tell her to, but maybe this year I pull the old " bait and switch "  z

[Dougas]

I think going for the big one right off the bat and as the season winds down and the freezer needs to have voids filled, going for a lesser one would be in order. If you are not fond of turkey meat, then hold out till the last hour of the last day.
For me, I don't care about the trophy value nearly as much as eating turkey meat, so, since I will have 3 tags, I would use the first 2 on getting meat and the last one for the big one until it got down to the wire, then the freezer takes trump over trophy.